The Guardian

The world is heading for an “ecological credit crunch” far worse than the current financial crisis because humans are over-using the natural resources of the planet, an international study warns today.

The Living Planet report calculates that humans are using 30% more resources than the Earth can replenish each year, which is leading to deforestation, degraded soils, polluted air and water, and dramatic declines in numbers of fish and other species.

CBC

Certain countries may be trading energy conservation for more toxic air emissions with their use of compact fluorescent lighting, say U.S. researchers.

In a study of 130 countries and 50 states, Yale University scientists concluded that in some places mercury emissions have been increased by switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents.

Frank Gobas at the Simon Fraser University in British Columbia has identified a new class of organic contaminants in fish that can pose threats to human. These represent a third or organic chemicals used commercially.

To control pollution in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing, Asian superpowers are planning to close down factories. “Some suggest the move will have little impact on China’s seemingly insatiable demand for raw materials, while others believe it could prove the tipping point for the end of the commodity boom.”

The Globe and Mail

Polluters in Quebec can be successfully sued for ”excessive annoyances” – even if they have complied with government regulations governing emissions such as noise, odour or dust, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today.

The Court sided in favour of allowing a class action targeting a St. Lawrence Cement Ltd. plant near Quebec City.

The Guardian

Lavish parties tend to leave a hangover as the problems of daily life, put aside for the celebrations, come crowding back. China’s Olympic party is not likely to prove an exception. The full legacy of the extraordinary events of 2008 in the People’s Republic of China will take many years to emerge, but in the short term, a number of pressing problems are clear.

Planet Ark

China should bind itself to international goals to slash greenhouse gas pollution, one of the nation’s most prominent policy advisers said, in a striking break with Beijing’s official stance.

GreenBiz

When we look back at the Beijing Olympics, great sporting moments will stay with us. Watching Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt break world records made all the air quality concerns leading into the Olympics seem like distant memories. But before the world bids “zaijian” to Beijing, it’s worth reflecting on what this Olympics meant and could mean for China.

Triple Pundit

A recent report from Carnegie Mellon University added numbers to our suspicions that a large portion of China’s emissions are from producing goods for export. 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 33% of China’s emissions, are the result of activities related to the production of export goods.

The Guardian

At least 200 million people around the world risk their health daily by eating food grown using untreated waste water, some of which may be contaminated with heavy metals and raw sewage, according to major study of 53 world cities.

Urban farmers in 80% of the cities surveyed were found to be using untreated waste water, but the study said they also provided vital food for burgeoning cities at a time of unprecedented water scarcity and the worst food crisis in 30 years.